Your Guide to Surviving Office Holiday Parties

‘Tis the season for office holiday parties. While the festive atmosphere can be full of opportunity, it is important to keep in mind some dos and don’ts for your upcoming office parties. We scoured the web for your primer on how to impress without stress.

Look dashing in the snow. While the holidays are a great time to add a festive touch to your outfit, you should still treat a holiday party like any other business event. And, as Intern Sushi co-founder and CEO Shara Senderoff advises, “leave the clubbing attire at home.” Read more of Senderoff’s tips at Forbes.

Branch out. Try not to cling to the same co-workers or supervisor you spend most of your time with at work. Take this chance to make new connections or get to know the people you otherwise wouldn’t work with on a daily basis. Find out who is on the guest list and do some research, suggests the Huffington Post.

The more the merrier, usually. While a holiday party may be a great occasion to introduce your coworkers to a friend or significant other, make sure guests are invited before you bring them in tow. The host of the party has likely planned for an estimated number of people and the addition of unexpected guests can really throw things off. When in doubt, ask. And, read more tips from Monster.

Don’t make it a silent night. Have fun and get chatting, but don’t only talk business. It’s natural to talk briefly about what’s happening at work but this relaxed atmosphere is the perfect opportunity to get to know your boss or co-workers on a more personal level (but avoid the trinity of gossip, politics and religion). And, per Fox Business, put away your phone and put in some face time.

Sip some holiday cheer, but not too much. Enjoy a glass of wine or two but don’t forget the reason you’re there. The last thing you want is to negatively impact the reputation you’ve worked hard to build at your company. Find out how to avoid other holiday faux pas on Bloomberg Businessweek.

And, we have a tip of our own: watch the clock. Some of your higher level executives are likely to attend the festivities, but chances are they’ll have to leave early to make it to another engagement. Don’t miss your chance to get some one-on-one time with the leaders of your organization by arriving on time.

Whether you love work-related events or dread them, try to see your upcoming holiday party as an opportunity to advance your career. Take advantage of access to important leaders, make new connections and have some fun. Just remember: everything in moderation.

Don’t forget to join us for the Chamber’s annual Net90 Holiday Party on Thursday, Dec. 15, at LBA Realty. In addition to all our holiday cheer, we’ll have a fantastic line-up for this year’s silent auction, which will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado.

Kathryn Goggin is an events specialist for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.